Updated 04-November-2025
Are you wondering what SATs stand for and how they impact your child’s education? SATs are important assessments in UK primary schools that measure a pupil’s understanding of the National Curriculum. These tests are taken at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6) and play a key role in tracking academic progress.
At Merit Tutors, we understand that SATs can feel overwhelming — both for students and parents. This guide explains everything from the SATs meaning and format to preparation tips, scoring, and what you can do to support your child’s learning.
SATs stands for Standard Assessment Tests — compulsory exams that measure how well pupils have mastered the National Curriculum in core subjects like English, Mathematics, and Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling (GPS).
These tests are standardised nationally and used to compare student progress across all state-funded schools in England.
KS1 SATs: Taken in Year 2 (ages 6–7), mostly teacher-assessed with short reading and maths tests.
KS2 SATs: Taken in Year 6 (ages 10–11), externally marked tests in reading, maths, and GPS.
SATs are usually held in May each year, and results are published in July.
Learn more from the official UK government SATs guide.
Track pupil progress: SATs show how well a child understands core subjects.
School evaluation: Results help Ofsted and local authorities assess school performance.
Transition to secondary school: Strong SATs results help identify academic strengths and readiness for Key Stage 3.
Early intervention: Helps teachers and parents address areas needing improvement.
Reading
Writing and Science (Teacher Assessed)
Each subject aligns with the UK National Curriculum, ensuring fair and consistent assessment across all schools.
The Standard Assessment Tests use scaled scoring to maintain fairness each year.
KS2 scaled scores range: 80–120
Expected standard: 100
KS1 range: 85–115
If your child scores 100 or more, they’ve met the expected standard. (Official guidance)
Raw Score: Actual marks obtained.
Scaled Score: Adjusted based on test difficulty to ensure consistency.
Above 110: Often indicates higher attainment.
At Merit Tutors, our qualified SATs tutors help pupils build confidence and exam technique through structured, personalised learning.
Here are our top tips:
Start early: Begin preparation months in advance.
Practice past papers: Build familiarity with test formats.
Focus on weak areas: Identify gaps using practice results.
Use timed exercises: Improve time management.
Work with a professional tutor: Our online SATs tuition provides personalised support tailored to each child.
Encourage positive mindset: Reward progress to build confidence.
For additional resources, check out BBC Bitesize SATs Revision.
SATs stands for Standard Assessment Tests, taken by pupils in Year 2 and Year 6 to assess progress in key subjects.
No — there’s no pass or fail. Scores above 100 indicate pupils are meeting or exceeding expectations.
SATs are conducted every May for Year 6 students across England.
Encourage daily reading, support with maths practice, and consider professional guidance from Merit Tutors for personalised SATs preparation.
Now that you know what SATs stand for, how they’re scored, and why they matter, it’s time to focus on preparation. The right support can make all the difference — and that’s where Merit Tutors excels.
Our expert primary tutors offer one-to-one and small group lessons to help your child feel confident, capable, and ready to achieve top results in SATs.
Start your child’s SATs success journey today — book your free consultation at Merit Tutors.
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